Public sector unions to commence industrial action

Public sector staff in Cork will be carrying out indefinite industrial action from 30 September, as part of an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.

The action will take the form of a work-to-rule, meaning staff will not engage in any activities outside those explicitly laid out in their contracts.

This includes refusing to work overtime or time in lieu, taking on duties which are the responsibilities of other grades, or which are usually carried out by vacant positions or colleagues on sick or maternity leave.

Workers will also withdraw from all working groups and national committees which they sit on as part of their roles, as well as withdrawing cooperation from any form of restructuring, or with new work practices and AI initiatives.

A national day of strike action will also be taking place on Wednesday 14 October.

The action includes all local authority workers. A separate work-to-rule industrial action, by primary school teachers represented by the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) is set to begin on 5 October. Primary teachers will join the national strike on 14 October.

Members of unions across the public sector, including Fórsa, SIPTU, Unite, and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, receiving over 95% in favour on average.

The unions said that the action is a result of a failure to agree the basis for talks with the government on a new public sector pay deal, which expired in July.

Cork residents can expect disruptions across all council services.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.